Brad Brooks of McDaniel Earns MACDA Postgraduate Scholarship

Photo Courtesy: Heidi Torregroza

BEL AIR, Md. – Brad Brooks (Newark, Del./Charter School of Wilmington), a senior on the McDaniel men’s swimming team, has won the 2016 Maryland Association of College Directors of Athletics (MACDA) postgraduate scholarship, announced on Friday.

Brooks was one of three recipients of the annual award, joining Catherine Frediani of Division I University of Maryland Baltimore County and Angela Kuhn of Harford Community College. Brooks was the recipient from the Division II or III institutions.

The MACDA postgraduate scholarships recognize three student-athletes for superior work in the classroom and on the field. The honorees represent three Maryland institutions of higher learning and differing levels of NCAA or NJCAA competition. Each recipient will receive a non-renewable, one-time grant of $500 upon his enrollment in a postgraduate program.

To be eligible, student-athletes must possess a minimum 3.2 grade-point average in undergraduate studies, excel in a varsity sport, participate in leadership activities beyond the playing field and plan to further their education.

It is just the latest in the list of accomplishments for Brooks, who last week was named a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American. Finishing the fall semester with a 4.00 GPA, it was his third straight nod to the team. Brooks was tabbed as a third-team Academic All-American in 2014 and second-team selection in 2015.

He was named the Centennial Conference (CC) inaugural Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Brooks also captured five academic awards at Commencement and Senior Investiture and Honors Convocation last week, including the Argonaut Award presented to the member of the senior class with the highest grade-point average.

Brooks won the 500 and 1,650 freestyle and finished second in the 400 IM races at the 2016 CC championship meet. In his four seasons racing at the CC championship, he earned 10 gold medals and two silver medals to his ledger. Brooks also returned to the NCAA championship this season, swimming all three events.

The Elite 90 winner at this year’s championship, he picked up his third honorable-mention All-America honor when he finished 13th in the 1,650. The only All-American in men’s swimming program history, Brooks also has a first-team honor to his credit as a sophomore.

A seven-time Dean’s List selection with Highest Honors, he was selected as a College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He was also a Capital One Academic All-America third-team selection as a sophomore and second team as a junior.

He with a 4.00 grade-point average in exercise science and plans to work toward his master’s degree in exercise science at McDaniel in the fall.

McDaniel College contributed this report.

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